3.2: Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets

Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) to communicate the hazards of hazardous chemical products. As of June 1, 2015, the HCS requires new SDSs to be in a uniform format, and include the section numbers, the headings, and associated information under the headings below:

Section 1, Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use.

Section 2, Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements.

Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims.

Section 4, First-aid measures includes important symptoms/ effects, acute, delayed; required treatment.

Section 5, Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire.

Section 6, Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup.

Section 7, Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.

Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE).

Section 9, Physical and chemical properties lists the chemical's characteristics.

Section 10, Stability and reactivity lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions.

Section 11, Toxicological information includes routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity.

Section 12, Ecological information* Section 13, Disposal considerations* Section 14, Transport information* Section 15, Regulatory information*

Section 16, Other information includes the date of preparation or last revision.

*Note: Since other Agencies regulate this information, OSHA will not be enforcing Sections 12 through 15(29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2)).

Employers must ensure that SDSs are readily accessible to employees.

See Appendix D of 1910.1200 for a detailed description of SDS contents.

Chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors must ensure that employers are provided copies of the SDS sheets with their initial shipment and with the first shipment after the SDS has been changed.

Maintaining SDS Sheets

The employer must maintain SDS sheets in the workplace for each of the hazardous chemicals on site. SDS sheets must be readily accessible, during each work shift, to employees when they are in their work area. Electronic access, such as computer databases, microfiche and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the SDS sheets are permitted, as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options. In any event, SDS sheets must be readily accessible during each work shift to all employees.

If employees are required to travel between workplaces during a shift, SDS sheets are permitted to be kept at the primary workplace facility. SDS sheets may be kept in any form, provided they contain all of the required information as listed above.

Training

Employers provide employees with effective training on the hazardous chemicals in their workplaces at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever new hazardous chemicals are introduced into the workplace.

The required training shall cover at least the following topics:

1. The requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard.
2. Operations in the employee's area where hazardous chemicals are present.
3. The location of the written hazard communication program and SDS sheets.
4. Methods and operations to detect the presence of hazardous chemicals.
5. The physical & health hazards associated with the chemicals in their work areas.
6. PPE available to the employees and other control measures they can use to protect themselves.
7. Details of the employer's hazard communication program, including how to use SDS sheets and proper PPE.

Process Safety Management

Unexpected releases of toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals have been reported for many years, in various industries using chemicals with such properties. Regardless of the industry that uses these highly hazardous chemicals, there is a potential for an accidental release any time they are not properly controlled, creating the possibility of disaster.

To help ensure safe and healthful workplaces, OSHA has issued the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard (29 CFR 1910.119), which contains requirements for the management of hazards associated with processes using highly hazardous chemicals.

Process safety management (PSM) is addressed in specific standards for the general and construction industries. OSHA's standard emphasizes the management of hazards associated with highly hazardous chemicals and establishes a comprehensive management program that integrates technologies, procedures, and management practices.